Steering-check for automobiles.



No. 692,877. Patented Feb. H I902.

H. LEMP.

STE EBING CHECK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application filed Jan. 17 1901.)

(No Model.)

'W NT R1. Hermann Lem TH: nunms psi-ins ea, momljnia, wAsnmoTom n. c.

, embodying additional features.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

HERMANN LEMP, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ELIHU THOMSON, OFSWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEERING-CHECK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 692,877, datedFebruary 11, 17902 Application filed January 1'7, 1901. Serial No.43,600. (ll '0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that I, HERMANN LEMP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Checks forAutomobiles, (Case No. 2,015,) of which the following is aspecification.

It is now becoming common practice to provide automobiles with some formof steering mechanism into which'a positive lock enters for preventingthe transfer of Wheel strains to the operating-handle. This lock iscontrolled, preferably, by the main steering-handle; but in someinstances a separate device for looking and unlockingis provided. I havefound that in certain instances it is undesirable to provide an absolutelock between the wheels and some fixed part of the vehicle, for thereason that some of the shocks due to road obstructions are Very severeand have a tendency to unduly strain the parts.

The present invention has for its object to provide a motion-checkingdevice into which a lock enters that to all'intents and purposes willhold the wheels or other devices intheir true path and prevent thetransmission of Wheel or other strains to the operating-handle, yet atthe same time relieve the parts to a certain extent of the thrust, whichoccurs when one part tends to move suddenlywith respect to another.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an embodiment of my invention,wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved check. Fig.2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aplan view ofacheckFig.4 is a section taken on line 4 40f Fig. 3. Fig. 5' is a sideelevation of a cock for admitting air to the air-chamber, and Fig. 6shows my improved check mounted on the front axle of the vehicle. l

A represents the casing or cylinder of my improved check and is arrangedto be secured to the stationary axle B or other suitable support bymeans of clamps A. Mounted eccentrically for movement within the casingis the piston G. The piston consists of a box-like structure having anactuator D mounted therein.

downwardly-extending projection M.

On the outside of the piston are two position shown in Fig. 2, the valvein the direction of movement is positively opened and the fluidinpassing from one chamber to the other opens the second valve. As soon aspressure is removed from the actuator the valves close, (1 no to gravityor equivalent means, and the piston is held in place. The piston isprovided with an upwardly-extending sleeve or shoulder, to which issecured the frame I, and the latter is secured to the short axles whichcarry the steering-wheels by means of a rod J. The actuator is rigidlysecured to the shaft K, which in turn is connected with the steeringtubeL by means of a universal coupling L. Mounted within the casing A isaremovable receptacle M, as shown in Fig. 4. Formed on the under side ofthis receptacle and arranged to fit the interior of the casing is a Theinner surface of this projection is curved concentrically with thecenter of movement of the piston. The receptacle M is filled with a bodyof normally quiescent fluid, which fluid keeps the chambers G and H fullby taking the place of any fluid which may leak out through the joints.The receptacle M is 'provided with a cover which is held in-place byscrews. Y

I have found that in certain instances it is undesirable to make thelocking between the steering-wheels and the stationary part of thevehicle absolute, because at times the strains are very severe. Toobviatethis, means are provided for giving a certain cushioningeffeetbetween the parts of the lock or check or between the moving element andthe actuator therefor. In the present instance thisis accomplishedbypermitting a certain amount of fluid to flow from one chamber toanother independent of the valves E and F. Aircushions may be providedagainst which the fluid works, either aloneor in connection with themeans previously alluded to. In

carrying this out the piston may be made to make a loose working fitwith the casing or cylinder, so that when a sudden thrust takes place acertain amount of fluid will pass from one chamber to another. I havefound it preferable, however, to make the parts an easy working fit andto provide a by-passsuch as N, for example, Fig. 2-which may beregulated as to the extent of its opening by the screw 0. The latterextends outside of the casing and is provided with a check-nut to holdit in any given position. By reason of this a very simple adjustingdevice is provided and one which can be actuated by any one. When in useand the steering wheel or wheels strike an obstruction or tend to moveat a rate of speed other than that due to the handle, the valves E and Fclose and check the free movement of the wheels with respect to thefixed axle. If the thrust is a hard one, a certain amount of normallyquiescent fluid will flow from one chamber to the other through theby-pass N, and thus take up or cushion to a certain extent the shock dueto the sudden thrustor impact. In Figs. 3 and 4 I have gone one stepfarther and provided in addition to the by-pass N an air-chamber P. Inthe present instance the air-chamber is shown as being composed of twotubes located on opposite sides of the casing and screwthreaded thereto.The cross-section of each tube is somewhat restricted at the point whereit enters the casing. With a structure of this kind the air in the upperpart of the chamber is not so liable to work back into the main chamberas where a large mouth or opening is provided. Ihave shown two of theseair-chambers, one on each side of the casing, but the construction canbe widely altered without departing from the spirit of my invention. Theupper ends of the tubes are closed by screwthreaded plugs Q, having arectangular opening therein for receiving a suitable wrench. In place ofthese plugs I may employ the aircocks R. (Illustrated in Fig. 5.) Thislatter arrangement has the advantage that air may be admitted to thechambers by actuating the plug B. When the piston tends to move whilethe valves E and F are closed-as, for example, when the steering wheelor wheels strike an obstruction-the fluid in chamber G or H, dependingon the direction from which the thrust comes, will be placed undergreater pressure than is the other. The particular chamber thussubjected to the increased pressure Iterm the "compression-chamber,andit is always the air-chamber which is connected to thecompression-chamber that acts as the cushion for that particular thrust.Assuming that the vehicle is in operation and one of the wheels meets aroad obstruction, the valves E and F will close and prevent the freecirculation of fluid from one chamber to the other; but there will be acertain amount of fluid that will flow through the by-pass N and acertain other amount will flow through the restricted neck into the tubeforming the air-chamber, and the amount passing into the tube willdepend upon the thrust on the Wheels and the duration thereof. After thewheels assume their normal running relation the fluid contained in thechamber will return either to the chamber G or II, depending upon whichone it came from. With the by-pass and air-chambers on the check one orthe other of them may get out of order, due to impurities in the fluid,yet the cushioning effect will be maintained, but, of course,

to a lesser degree.

Referring to Fig. 6, 13 represents the fixed front axle of the vehicle,and S the short axles pivoted thereto and carrying the steeringwheels T.The short axles are connected to the frame I of the steering-check bythe rods J. The steering-handle U is connected to the verticalsteering-tube L. By changing the angular position of the handle theangular position of the wheels is correspondingly changed. The firstmovement of the handle U is to open one or the other of the valves E orF, depending on which way it is moved from a central position. Continuedmovement in the same direction will move the vehicle-wheels. As soon asthe pressure is removed from the handle the valves automatically closedue to the springs or gravity, and the wheels will be held in theposition left by the steering-handle, except for some slight movementpermitted by the cushioning device and caused by an obstruction in theroad.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In a device forcheeking motion, the combination of a stationaryelement, a moving element, a body of normally quiescent fluid forholding the elements in any definite relation, a valve for regulatingthe relative movements of the parts, and a relief-passage which isalways open for permittingasmallamount of fluid to escape from thecompression-chamher to decrease the shock or thrust between parts.

2. In a motion-checking device, the combination of elements movable withrespect to each other, abody of normally quiescent fluid acting as alock between the elements,a means controlling the action of theelements, and means for cushioning the effect of a thrust between theelements, which means operates each time a thrust takes place.

3. In a motion-checking device, the combination of a casing, a pistonmovable within the casing, abody of normally quiescent fluid located inchambers on each side of the pis-' ton, a valve for regulating thepassage of fluid from one side of the piston to the other, and a by-passaround the piston which is never closed.

4.. In a motion-checking device, the combination of a piston movablewithin the casing, a body of normally quiescent fluid located inchambers on each side of the piston, a valve for regulating the passageof fluid from one side of the piston to the other, a by-pass 5. In amotion-checking device, the combination of a casing, a piston pivotallymounted therein and arranged to make a working fit, a by-pass formed inthe casing which shunts the piston and is never closed, and means,adjusted from the outside of the casing, for varying the opening in theby-pass.

6. In a motion-checking device, the combination of two elements movablewith respect to each other, a body of fluid forming a lock between theelements, and an air-chamber which is in communication with the fluidand so arranged that the thrust of one part on the other forces fluidinto it and compresses the air therein.

7. In a motion-checking device, the combination of two elements movablewith respect to each other, a lock for looking the elements together,and an air-compression chamber forming a part of the lock for decreasingthe efiect of the thrust when one element tends to move suddenly andindependently of the other.

8. In a motion-checking device, the combination of a piston, a cylinder,a body of normally quiescent fluid on each side of the piston, a valvefor controlling the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to theother, and an air-chamber into which the fluid is forced when the pistonand cylinder tend to move suddenly with respect to each other,=

which fluid compresses the air in the chamber.

9. In a motion-checking device, the combination of a piston, a cylinder,bodies of normally quiescent fluid on each side of the piston, a valvefor controlling the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to theother,

and an air-chamber on each side of the piston,"

the chambers and pistonsbeing so arranged that the fluid on thecompression side of the piston will enter the chamber on that side andcompress the air therein whenever the piston and cylinder tendto movesuddenly with respect to each other. I I

10. In a motion-checking device,tho combination of twoelements movablewith respect to each other, a body of normally quiescent fluid, "anair-chamber, and aby-pass, the relation of the chamber and bypass to theele- .ments being such that when one element tends to move suddenly withrespect to, the other fiuid circulates under pressure therein.

11. In a motion-checking device,the combination of a cylinder, a piston,air-chambers. each consisting of a tubular structure with a restrictedneck where it entersthe cylinder, the two chambers being located onopposite sides of the piston, and a body of fluid located on each sideof the piston and inconstant communication with an air-chamber. r 12. Ina motion-checkin g device,tl1ecomb1- nation of two elements movablewith'respeot to each other,'a body of fluid forming a lockbetween them,an air-chamber arrangedto receive fluid when the elements tend tomoveindependent of each other, and means for admitting air to thechamber.

13. In a steering mechanism, the oombination of a' fixed support, a pairof short axles carried thereby on which the steering-wheels are mounted,connecting means between the axles, a steering-handle, a lockingmechanism for preventing the transmissionofwheel strains to the handle,and an air-cushion to take up a certain amount of thethust when thewheels meet a road obstruction.

14. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a fixedsupport, apair ofshort axles pivotallymounted thereon,- connecting means between theaxles, a double-acting lock, one element of which is connected to thewheel and another element to the support, means for operating the lock,a steering-handle, and

a cushioning device between the two rela-" tively-movable parts of thelock for'absorb-' ing, to a certain extent, the thrusts due' to roadobstructions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmyhand this 15th day of January,ll.

HERMANN LEMP.

Witnesses: Y

DUGALD MoK. MoKILL'oP, JOHN J. WALKER.

